It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Originally posted by Byrd
Originally posted by Mcphisto
Why does everything have to be happy holidays now? Or Seasons greetings?
So that the cards are appropriate to all faiths. We tend to buy the cards in bulk and to send them to friends and family of many different faiths. The generic cards sell better -- the card sender doesn't have to buy a pack of Jewish cards and a pack of Cards Suitable For Someone Whose Faith We Don't know, and a different set for the agnostics, and a different set for the Baptists, etc, etc.
It's a way to include EVERYONE in the holiday!
Originally posted by Mcphisto
So that means other faiths take offence to Merry Christmas?
So why are work places worried about putting up Christmas trees
Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth
The ressurection is the day Christians are supposed to remember.
Darkelf,it has been argued,even by some christians, that Easter is "pagan" as well. So...
[edit on 31-10-2006 by SpeakerofTruth]
Originally posted by denythestatusquo
I have a better idea: if these people don't like merry christmas then why don't they pack up and go back to where they came from.
I know a day not so long ago when nobody was offended by merry christmas and I want that day back.
Originally posted by Nygdan
Originally posted by Mcphisto
So that means other faiths take offence to Merry Christmas?
Considering that you're taking offense at a non-religious general 'happy holidays' statement, I don't think you're in any position to criticize another faith even if it DID take offense at 'merry christmas'.
Also, what part of byrd's statement had anything to to do with others being insulted? Byrd's saying that people don't say 'merry christmas', because when they're actually wanting to give a greeting and good wishes to a person, they figure 'happy holidays' will be more sensible, since you don't know if anyone is a christian, jew, muslim, hindu, etc. So by saying 'happy holidays', they're accomplishing what they want to say. Saying 'merry christmas' to everyone is silly, since not everyone celebrates christmas.
So why are work places worried about putting up Christmas trees
Thats really up to the individual people at the buisness no? I've never been somewhere where they refused to put up christmas trees. And if some job did, maybe its because there are lots of non christians there.
Or maybe because its a place of business, not a religious building.
Also, please stop using vulgarities.
Originally posted by Mcphisto
So that means other faiths take offence to Merry Christmas?
LONDON: A top cleric is taking aim at the "systematic erosion" of Christianity in British public life, citing among other things official refusal to acknowledge Christmas for fear of offending other faiths.
The Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, a leading official in the Church of England, objected to official government Christmas cards which merely wish "Seasons Greetings" as well as to Santa on stamps instead of Jesus Christ.
Speaking to church lay readers in the northern English city of Newcastle, Sentamu also complained that official documents now invite people to write their "first name" rather than "Christian name".
He criticised the decision by the local council in Plymouth, southern England, to end free parking on Sundays in case it offended people who worship on other days.
He cited the decision eight years ago by Birmingham City Council, in central England, to rename Christmas "Winterval" which was made to avoid offending others.
He said the then bishop of Birmingham Mark Santer led a campaign, backed by other faiths, to make the council change back. "But in the eight years since Winterval there have been many other instances and decisions where Christianity is being systematically eroded from public view," he said.
Originally posted by denythestatusquo
I have a better idea: if these people don't like merry christmas then why don't they pack up and go back to where they came from.
Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
And Mcphisto, you didn't answer my question asking who is preventing YOU (or anyone) from saying Merry Christmas or enjoying the holiday in the way that you see fit. It sounds more like you want to tell everyone else how to celebrate it and what to say...
It's an age old tactic of accusing your nemesis of what you're actually doing. :shk:
Originally posted by Mcphisto
Why does everything have to be happy holidays now? Or Seasons greetings?
Why cant we have happy Christmas anymore? And to make me really mad is that I havent heard any Muslims complain (which is a wonder), the Chinese dont complain, Jews, Indians dont care. So who is it that decides we better not show Santa, dont put up Christmas trees, putting a baby Jesus in a stable is tantamount to a lawsuit!!
I dont mind the Chinese new year, the current Indian celebrations where they give out sweet things (cant remember name sorry) does not offend me, it adds to the culture I am surrounded by. Jewish holidays are well known and enjoyed, and I shop at meat shops where they sell Halal meats.
So who's taken my little boys Santa??? I'll wring thier bloody necks!!!!
Originally posted by Mcphisto
Who knows, maybe your one of those Lesbian, one-armed, black, muslim, 96 yr old do-gooder we all got to be aware of when have a chat in the lunch room?
Originally posted by Rockpuck
ACLU
Politically Correct Christmas Card
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.
In addition, please also accept our best wishes for a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2004, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make this country great (not to imply that this country is necessarily greater than any other country or area of choice), and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual orientation of the wishers.
This wish is limited to the customary and usual good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first. "Holiday" is not intended to, nor shall it be considered, limited to the usual Judeo-Christian celebrations or observances, or to such activities of any organized or ad hoc religious community, group, individual or belief (or lack thereof).
Note: By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher at any time, for any reason or for no reason at all. This greeting is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. This greeting implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for the wisher her/himself or others, or responsibility for the consequences which may arise from the implementation or non-implementation of it.
This greeting is void where prohibited by law.
[url=http://www.nj1015.com/personalities/jim-gearhart/bits/pc-xmas-card.htm]http://www.nj1015.com/personalities/jim-gearhart/bits/pc-xmas-card.htm[/ur l]
Originally posted by madnessinmysoul
well
i know in the UNITED STATES it has something to do with the whole, seperation of church and state/first ammendment thing in the consistution
the united states has a clause that protects the nonreligious from all religions, and the religious from other religions
Originally posted by Rockpuck
How The ACLU Didn't Steal Christmas
Of course, there is no "Merry Christmas" lawsuit, nor is there any ACLU litigation about U.S. currency, military chaplains, etc. But the facts are not important to these groups, because their real message is this: By protecting the freedom of Muslims, Jews, and other non-Christians through preventing government entanglement with religion, the ACLU is somehow infringing on the rights of those with majority religious beliefs.
I've been reading a great deal about various legal battles over Christmas and I must say that I haven't read anything that would support the above claims.
...
Do you see the pattern here? It's not, as Brewton claims, a systematic elimination of all things Christian but an elimination of complete and total Christian dominance of all things Christmas.
...
I can't think of a single thing wrong with this scenario. What are the chances that Brewton is just making things up?
Originally posted by Rockpuck
I am terribly sorry Benevolent. I will never accept that ACLU does not support the "secularisation" of Christmas, which is a Christian Holiday, and there is NOTHING wrong with wishing someone a Merry Christmas.
Originally posted by snafu7700
the aclu ... managed to convince the supreme court